Mahnke Family Recipes

Italian

Recipes from Italy that showcase regional diversity and longstanding culinary traditions. The dishes typically focus on simple, high-quality ingredients and balanced flavours.

• Cannelloni
  This dish may be prepared in advance or frozen before baking.
• Chicken & broad bean tagliatelle
  Really wonderful with fresh broad beans, also known as fava beans in the US. When we had an allotment garden, I always looked forward to this dish.
• Chicken Tetrazzini
  This is the version that Angela grew up with.
• Chicken Tetrazzini - Pam's version
  It's a childhood classic.
• Chickpea & Carrot Soup
  I had this in a great little place in New York City near Citibank in Midtown (on 53rd between 2nd and 3rd) called Luna Piena as a special and copied it as best I could.
• Eggplant (Aubergine) Parmesan
  The whole family loves this meal. Yes it takes a long time to make all the bread-crumbed eggplant and make the sauce, but there are days it is just worth it. It is also a lovely appetiser for a dinner party and can be made the day before and reheated.
• Giorgio's sausage and lentils
  I have changed this a bit by adding red wine, a carrot and fennel seeds.
• Italian Broccoli Casserole
  I know this screams the 70's, but it is very tasty if you are having a simple meat dish.
• Italian 'Polpetti' Meatballs
  I had the idea for this mini-Italian meatball recalling something from a Molto Mario show when we lived in New York. I couldn't find the recipe, so I made it up. When I make it, I do a double recipe and freeze a portion or two. It also reheats nicely.
• Picatta-style pan fried fish
  You can use virtually any small skin-on fish fillets - approximately one large or two smaller fillets.
• Penne ala Vodka
  I learned about this dish from Aunt Hilary, but mostly made it up. Ryan just loves it.
• Ricotta Dumplings
  These little dumplings, made from a few staple Italian larder ingredients, are traditionally made in my home village of Minori on the feast day of the town's patron saint.
• Spaghetti Hamburger Casserole
  If you have been pregnant, Angela has probably made this for you...
• Veal Picata
  An absolute classic dish, and it deserves it.
• Veal Ragu with Cellentani Pasta
  Angela had this in a Roman trattoria called _Trattoria da Lucia_, it was wonderful, so I tried to copy it. First of all, this goes quickly, so you should really get everything ready before you start.